What kind of chemical reaction is shown? AgNO_3 + NaCl -> AgCl + NaNO_3

1 Answer
Oct 31, 2016

A "metathesis" or "partner exchange" reaction.

Explanation:

This reaction is typically performed in aqueous solution, in which AgCl is about as soluble as a brick.

So we could write:

AgNO_3(aq) + NaCl(aq) rarr AgCl(s)darr + NaNO_3(aq)

Alternatively, we could write a net ionic equation:

Ag^(+) + Cl^(-) rarr AgCl(s)darr

In both equations, charge is balanced as well as mass, as indeed they must be.